2023 20/20 Postgraduate Research Seminar Competition
Anna Gardner (2019) has won the 2023 20/20 Postgraduate Research Seminar with her presentation ‘Value for her? Gender and entrepreneurial identities in the alliance for a green revolution in Africa.’
Anna travelled to Africa for her MPhil in Geography, to interview female agricultural entrepreneurs. Her presentation explored how these ‘agripreneurs’ viewed the concept of entrepreneurship and the qualities of the ‘Neoclassical entrepreneurial self’: being self-confident, a risk-taker, resilient and economically motivated. She found that what these women had to say challenged these traditional assumptions and how outcomes of entrepreneurship should be measured.
Runner-up was Biological Sciences PhD student Greg Halliwell, who talked about his research into finding a way to repair the myelin sheath in older people with multiple sclerosis.
Every entrant is limited to 20 slides, each auto-advancing after 20 seconds. It may be straightforward, but it forces speakers to introduce and explain their ideas concisely and memorably.
In total, eight postgrads presented their work at the seminar, covering subjects a diverse range of topics, including peacebuilding in Southeast Asia, why geographers don’t need to go to Antarctica to study it and how parasites make the choice between a host of quality or plentiful but low energy.
Head Judge Dr Max Sternberg said: ‘The judges were hugely impressed with the quality and range of presentations. Every student was able to open a window into their field, share a provocative finding, and, above all, express their passion for their research. At the end of the event we as judges felt a little bit like students again after an afternoon of inspiring tutorials.’
The judges were Professor Mike Payne, Dr Max Sternberg, Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe and Dr Simon Peyton-Jones.
The judges awarded vouchers of £25 and £15 to Anna and Greg.
Participants
Maireen Collins-Attwood (PhD in Zoology) – ‘A tricky choice: how do parasites choose their victim?’
Anna Gardner (MPhil Geography) – ‘Value for her? Gender and entrepreneurial identities in the alliance for a green revolution in Africa.’
Greg Halliwell (PhD in Biological Science) – ‘Repairing the damaged brain in multiple sclerosis.’
Moez Hyat (PhD Politics & International Studies) – ‘Pragmatic peacebuilding: Rethinking international order from the experience of Southeast Asia.’
Lisa Iwamoto-Stohl (PhD Physiology, Dev & Neuroscience) – ‘When do mouse and human embryos first break symmetry?’
Ben Mortishire Smith (PhD Chemistry) – ‘Shining a light on DNA modifications: How we are using photochemistry to explore the hidden epigenetic code.’
Alice Oates (PhD Polar Studies) – ‘“No, I’m not going there”, or ‘Collected rants of an Antarctic historian.”’
Hannah Zhou (Master of Finance) – ‘Netherland pension funds climate transition risk and opportunities.’
